Wall Street Journal

— By Charlie Meyer — How brick-and-mortar retailers can leverage in-store technologies to beat the online competition.   The last 2 years have been absolutely awful for owners of physical stores. Online competition has been around for decades, of course, but during the pandemic things have gotten even worse for independent stores, franchises and chains. Thanks to an ever-shifting world of lockdowns, social distancing requirements, mask mandates and constant battles between government agencies and health departments at the federal, state and local level, merchants have been at a disadvantage against …

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Seattle — Amazon, the Seattle-based e-commerce giant, is planning to open a chain of department stores to boost its sales in clothing, household items, electronics and other areas. The news comes from a Wall Street Journal report citing “people familiar with the matter.” The first stores are expected to open in Ohio and California and, at around 30,000 square feet, will be smaller than a typical department store. “It is unclear what brands Amazon will offer in the stores, although the company’s private-label goods are expected to feature prominently,” the …

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Maryville, Tenn. — Ruby Tuesday Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with plans to permanently close 185 restaurants that were shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s 236 open locations will remain operational throughout the reorganization process. The Maryville, Tenn.-based chain is the latest restaurant group to fall victim to the economic pressures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. California Pizza Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 protection in July citing similar struggles. “This announcement does not mean ‘Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday’ — this is ‘Hello, to a stronger Ruby Tuesday’,” …

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